By Eliz Dowdy, Staff Writer

Faith Ministries International Network of Churches recently hosted their annual Leadership Conference, an event that brings participating churches, pastors, apostles, bishops, elders, and the laity to the high desert for a period of in depth teaching and training.  The chosen theme for 2017 was, “Kingdom Hope.”

The conference started with a Prayer Breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Victorville.  Mayors of high desert cities were invited to attend, as specific prayers were spoken for the spiritual needs of the global communities.  The official opening of the conference was held at Faith Ministries church in Apple Valley.  Praise, worship flags representing the nations where Faith Ministries will share the Good News were placed in the front of the church.  Bishop Eldoris Bonner, who started Faith Ministries, read the official proclamation declaring the conference open to conduct kingdom business.  That is what happened, during the remainder of the week, as attendees received powerful teaching during the day, and Holy Ghost preaching during the evening services.  Pastors and other ecclesiastical leaders were reminded of their calling, and they were advised to make the necessary changes to appeal to the millennials who are abandoning the faith of their parents and grandparents in droves.  They do not consider it relevant to their lives today, yet they, as generations before them, are searching for truth and reasons for living beyond the accumulation of wealth.

Thursday evening’s service had chief Apostle Rebecca Washington Berry as the keynote speaker. She presented a plaque for bravery to Miguel Sosa, the young man whose story was trending on Facebook after the massacre at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.  Although, an activist for civil and economic rights, Sosa found himself rescuing victims while the shooting was still raging.  The person on his left, and on his right were slain.  It was difficult for him to absorb, and he refused all media attempts until two local TV channels were able to locate him.  Sosa’s mom is a local pastor in the Inland Empire, and operates as an affiliate under the umbrella of Faith Ministries.  She stated he talks about the episode very little.

Friday morning, honorary doctorate degrees were bestowed upon those who have labored in the vineyard of ministry as a testimony to their diligence as the “Called”.    They were representative of almost every state in the United States. Friday evening the attendees moved back to the Holiday Inn, clad in formal attire for the presentation of awards. Included among the awardees was the Precinct Reporter’s own Dr. Elizabeth Coleman Dowdy, receiving an Eagle Award for leadership and achievement.  The conference concluded Sunday after the appointment of Bishops, ordinations, evangelism reports, and financial reports.

Faith Ministries International Network of Churches is located in Apple Valley.  For information contact: Ph. 760-240-3263: faithministriesw.com